Scottish licensing regulations cost retailers £16m

The new licensing regulations in Scotland are estimated to have cost local convenience stores in excess of £16 million in costs.

Steps already taken to comply with the new licensing regulations, under the Licensing (Scotland) 2005 Act, that are set to come into force on September has already cost the Scottish convenience sector £16m.



The regulations will result in increased licence application fees and will mean retailers must now complete a layout and operating plan and ensure staff are appropriately trained in order to be granted a licence to sell alcohol.



The figures are released by the Scottish Grocers Federation ahed of its annual conference taking part this weekend. John Drummond, chief executive of SGF said: "When the Scottish government gave assurances that retailers operating responsible businesses had nothing to fear from the new legislation this obviously did not apply to costs.



"With additional alcohol legislation due any day, plans underway to remove the display of tobacco, difficulties accessing credit and record low consumer confidence retailers are reaching crisis point.



"If the Scottish Government wants to avoid job losses and shop closures they must stop legislating against convenience store retailers and instead work in partnership with us. "

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